Mesmerising the Duke

By Roxie Brandon

Amazing value Regency four-story collection. Jam-packed with romance, love, and adventure.

Charming dukes with attitudes and kind hearts. Lovely ladies who want to find love. You'll find all of this and much more in this collection.

This Regency romance collection is a sweet read with a guaranteed happily ever after.

The full collection includes:
1.The Reluctant Bride
2.The Governess
3. The Duke’s Violet
4. The Duke’s Margaret

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roxie Brandon
• Release date: Oct 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005388423

Roxie Brandon

Roxie Brandon is an author of historical and contemporary romance, beauty and fashion books.Her romances range in setting from Medieval times to the Twentieth Century.She loves walks in the countryside and having afternoon tea with family and friends.

Book preview

THE RELUCTANT BRIDE

Chapter One

Rain poured outside the window. Charlotte sat at the piano, her fingers drifting over the ivory keys. Jane looked at her sister and sighed. She would make someone a fine wife one day. Charlotte was accomplished in all the ways that Jane was not. Charlotte could sing and dance and play several instruments, all the things that men found suitable within a wife. Jane? Well she could draw and wanted to travel to Italy and become one of the greats.

Already, several wives from the neighborhood had commissioned work from her. She had made a tidy little profit, keeping the coin in hopes of purchasing her own little cottage in Italy. She would drink wine all day and paint. Her work would be sold across the countries. Her mother disagreed, insisting Jane settle down like her older sister Peggy.

Peggy entered the room, a flurry of trailing skirts and long veil. Jane sighed and gathered her own skirts, standing and giving chase to her older sister.

Jane found Peggy in the grove, pacing among the trees. She held her wedding dress high, keeping the train from dragging in the mud. Jane kept her own skirts above her ankles as she walked to her sister.

What is the problem, Peggy? Jane grabbed her sister’s wrist and forced her to stop moving. You should be happy. It is your wedding day.

"Do not tell me how I should feel Jane. You know as well as I do that this is all one giant farce arranged by our parents to settle their daughters off to suitors of high standing. I’m three and twenty. That is a spinster by any rights. Yet here is a man who wishes to marry me. What do you expect his motive to be?"

I expect him to be a widower who simply seeks a new companion. How can you find fault in that, dear sister? Has he not been exceptionally kind to you thus far? From all I have seen he means you no ill will. In fact, he seems like a rather charming man and at the very least Father is impressed with his position in life and his decorum.

This is all true, he has been kinder to me than I ever could have hoped for. Young Miss Williamson down the road said her betrothed is absolutely dreadful.

Jane grinned and looped her arm through her sister’s. I have met the man on several occasions and I would be inclined to agree. He is a rather uncomely brute. The sort of man I would not wish to spend the rest of my life with.

The sisters laughed as they walked back toward the house. Charlotte had changed in the time they were gone, her dress a simple powder blue and the bodice decorated with miniature beads in the shape of feathers. Charlotte took the time and the pocket money to make her clothes appear more splendid than the family could ever hope to afford. Jane was not sure how she managed but suspected her baby sister of creeping off late at night to perform for rich lords and ladies.

You look stunning Peggy, Charlotte said as she descended the steps and pulled her sister into a tight embrace. I am glad that the dress fits you will, I had been fearful that we would not be able to lace the corset tight enough to provide the silhouette I intended.

Jane held her tongue and watched Charlotte fidget with the beaded design on Peggy’s dress. It had taken Charlotte months to create the lace that adorned the entire ensemble. It would have taken less time but Charlotte refused any help offered, insisting that it would not be perfect unless she did it herself. Jane had been more than happy to step aside. Sewing and needlework were not her strengths. She much suspected she would have stained the dress before completion anyway. There was always a smudge of charcoal or streak of oil paint to be found on her body no matter how much she may wash up.

It is time, Mother said as she appeared from the house on Father’s arm.

The carriage pulled around the front road led by a team of two silky black horses. Jane admired the way their manes and coat shined under the early morning sun. She longed for her set of charcoal to capture the beauty. Jane took a step toward the house but her mother stepped into her path.

Do not dare think about bring the charcoal with you. I will not have you looking like an urchin covered in soot at your sister’s wedding. Are we understood Jane?

Yes Mama, Jane said as she backed away and followed Peggy to the carriage. Their father helped the women inside before he got on the seat with the coachman.

Are you excited? I could never have hoped this day would come. We had hoped you would marry by seventeen, you were always such a beauty. Even though your looks have begun to fade I knew a man as fine as Jameson would come calling. There is something about you, my dear Peggy, that simply dictates a good marriage. This will be what is best for our family. From here on you will be in a position to help your sisters find excellent marriages as well.

Jane knew there was no point in arguing with Mother. She had never accepted Jane’s dreams, calling them fanciful and insisted that her life would only be filled with scandal if she decided to pursue her passion. According to Mama, the only kind of women who lived alone were too ugly for marriage or too old to find a young and wealthy man. To Mama, the life of an artist was simply not possible. She would rather see her daughter in a loveless marriage than happy.

Chapter Two

Peggy’s wedding had been beautiful, the ceremony held in the church before God and the stained glass windows. Through the entire ceremony, Jane’s fingers had itched for her paints. She wished to capture this moment forever on canvas, a gift to Peggy that she hoped would be her pride and joy. Jane knew she could capture a likeness from memory once she got home but it would not be quite the same as it had been in that moment.

After the ceremony, they moved to a luncheon held in the park. Blankets were spread across the grass and groups of people sat upon them with plates of food in their hands. Peggy had refused the ball her mother insisted upon, instead wanting the much more intimate setting of a picnic. She said it would be the last time to truly be with her friends. Jameson’s house was nearly a week’s journey by horse away. A fact which Jane was loathe to relish.

Jane and Peggy were close in age though Charlotte was considerably younger. As such the two girls had grown up attached at the hip. Never had they been apart more than a night. They had shared a room from the day Jane was born. Now, Jane would be in that room alone and she would rarely get the opportunity to see her closest friend.

Why such a sour expression? a man asked as he stood at the edge of Jane’s blanket.

Jane glanced up. The man was cleanly dressed, his suit made of thick fabric and the shirt beneath made of silk. It was enough to suggest the man was wealthy, far wealthier than she. Yet, Jane still wondered at his manners.

That is quite a way to introduce yourself in proper society. One would think you had no manners at all, Jane said as she put down her plate of roast chicken and potatoes. Certainly you cannot be a gentleman if you cannot afford even a simple hello before accusing me of having a sour look.

The man’s mouth twitched, his green eyes sparkling as the wind played with the dark locks of hair atop his head. My apologies Miss. Hello, how do you do?

Well, Jane said as she folded her hands together. It would appear that a man believes the proper way of introducing himself is to insult me.

A quick tongue for a woman.

Jane quirked an eyebrow. A bigot of a man. There is no surprise there.

His cheeks flushed as Jane stood. I did not intend it like that, he said. I simply meant that most women prefer to remain silent or bat their eyelashes. Few rarely defend their ground.

Well sir, I am glad to have been the first. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go congratulate Peggy on her nuptials.

Jane brushed by the man, a pink tint rising to her cheeks. If Mother found out how Jane had spoken to the man she would be livid. Mother was always insisting she watch her tongue. One day she would speak to the wrong person in such a manner and meet an unkind temperament. Still, Jane found herself more likely to speak her mind than remain silent as her family wished. Peggy was the only one who did not seemed to mind Jane’s wickedly sharp tongue.

Who was that you were talking to? Mama asked as Jane approached her and Father.

Nobody of importance, I am sure. He had manners that were little better than the swine.

Jane! You should not speak so openly among the public. I bide you hold your tongue this instant!

Father’s white eyebrows knit together as he looked at his daughter. You will never find a suitable husband with a tongue like that and I will not support you for your entire life. I have supported you for far too long already.

Jane perked up. So I may have your permission to travel to Italy and study art?

Certainly not! Her father’s voice was little above a hiss. No daughter of mine will go traipsing through Europe looking for trouble in the guise of painting for a living. It will simply not be done. If you refuse to pick a husband, I shall force your hand.

You cannot make me marry! Anyhow, I have had no offers.

Do not play that game with us, Mother whispered as she gripped Jane’s arm. I know you have had several proposals and I know you have turned them down. Charlotte has told me everything. Who do you think you are fooling, young lady? You will be settled down by the end of the summer season whether it is of your choosing or your father’s.

Jane yanked her arm from her mother’s grip, tears welling in her eyes as she glowered at Charlotte. The younger girl ducked behind a tree, trying to avoid the betrayed gaze of her sister. Jane felt fire burn in her veins as she turned on her heel and gathered her skirts. She ran away